Treating natural and artificial fibers



Patented Dec. 24, 1935 mam G. Bouhuys, Enka, N. C.,'assignor'to AmericanEnka Corporation, corporation of Delaware Enka, N. 00,

No Drawing. Application March 23, 1934, f

- Serial No. 717,115

4 Claims. (01. 87-9) This application is a continuation in part of myapplication Serial #678,728, filed July 1, 1933.

The present invention relates to lubrication and protection of yarns,threads, filaments, textile fibers or the like consisting wholly orpartially of natural or artificial materials.

After the yarn, thread, or filament has been spun or formed and thefinal product finished, it is subjected toconsiderable physical wearduring the various knitting, weaving; braiding, winding, and othertextile treatments or operations which it must undergo. Thus, beforegoing into various processes such as weaving, knitting, braiding,winding, or coning, the yarns, threads, or fi1aments are oftenpreviously treated for their protection with oily treating liquids'whichform a protective film over their surface and which have somelubricating properties. 80 treating the yarn, threads, or filamentstends to prevent damage to them during the operations mentioned, duringwhich operations the yarn, threads, or filaments are usually exposed tocomparatively high tensions. For economic reasons, such an oil treatmentof the yarn, thread, or filament is made while they arein the dry state.and during the winding operations of the original yarn package.

Coning and winding oils heretofore described have the defects thatyarns, threads, or filaments treated withlsuch mixtures require either athorough scouring before the yarn, thread, or filament is dyed, or theinclusion in the oil of such a large amount, (at least over 25%) ofsulfonic acid salts of mineral oils or other known emulsifying agents asto reduce the lubricating properties of the oil to such an extent thatit is impracticable for commercial use. v i

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved method and composition of the character described above forlubricating and protecting yarn, thread, and fila-- ments, and animproved protected and lubricated product.

An improvement of" the compositions 6: the

present invention over known compositions. conacceptable operation.

diphenylamine, resorcinol, phenol, or hydroquinone.

Among the further objects of the invention is the provision of a methodwhich comprises protecting and lubricating fabric, yarn, thread,filaments, or textile fibers, artificial as well as natural, duringmechanical operations upon them and dyeing the said materials, whichmethod does not require the removal of the lubricating and protectingagent from the said materials in a sep- 10 arate operation prior tocontact of said materials with dyeing agents. The invention may beapplied to natural fibers, fabric, thread or yarn, such as, cotton,silk, etc, or to artificial fabrics, yarn, threads, or filaments such asviscose 'silk, cellulose acetate silk, cuprammonia and nitro silks andthe like, or mixtures thereof, eliminating the heretofore necessary stepof scouring.

According to the present invention the fabric, yarn, thread or filamentis impregnated with or has applied to it, in any suitable manner, acomposition consisting essentially of a mixture of suitable mineral oillubricant, a suitable alkali metal soap-likev emulsifying agent such asthe sodium or potassium soap of oleic acid, 121- ethanolamine soap ofoleic acid, and mahogany sulfonates or mineral oil sulfonates such asmay be obtained by treating crude mineral oil stocks or naphthas withconcentrated or fuming sulfuric acid and reacting upon the obtainedsulfonic acids 39 with an alkali metal hydroxide such as sodiumhydroxide. These mineral oil sulfonates or mahogany sulfonates are wellknown and therefore need no detailed description here. It is preferable,however, to employ purified sulfonates because of their lighter colorand generally more As sulfonates may also be used the alkali metal saltsof the sulfonic acids obtained by allowing an excess of sulfuric acid toact upon an aromatic hydrocarbon, for example, naphthalene, or benzene,in the presence of oleic acid, such sulfonic acids being sometimes knownas Twitchell reagent, and the term mineral oil sulfonate as used hereinis used as including these reagents as well as true mahogany or mineraloil sulfonates.

A further part of the present invention con-- sists in utilizing in theabove described composition a free fatty acid, such asaoleic acid,which. is particularly useful to make the, soaps used as described abovedissolve completely and clearlythe probabilities being that the addedfreefatty acid counteracts hydrolysis ofthe soaps used. A still furtherpart of the invention comsists in adding to the mixture of mineral oil,soaps and mineral oil sulfonates, solvents for potassium soaps, whichare as a rule difllcult to prepare in the form of a clear solution, andfor this purpose the i'ollowingsolvents may be used; monoethylether ofdiethyleneglycol (carbitol), monobutylether of ethylene glycol (butylcellosolve) monobutylether of diethyleneglycol (butyl carbitol), etc.

As mineral 011 any acid free, clear, colorless, or slightly coloredmineral lubricating oil may be used. A chemically inert and stablemineral lubricating or parafiin oil from 30 seconds Saybolt viscosity(100 F.) up may be used. The viscosity of the oil may be even as high as80 seconds Saybolt viscosity. However, a mineral oil with a viscositybetween 30 and 70 Saybolt acts very satisfactorily The so-called whiteoils, which are purified mineral lubricating oils, may be advantageouslyemployed as the mineral oil. The composition may be prepared byintimately mixing the various ingredients in the desired proportions,and as examples of various compositlons, ranges of proportions, and whatare now believed to be preferred proportions, the following are given;but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thesespecific examples:

Example 1 Preierred Ranges oi proportions proportions Percent PercentMineral oil {30 60 40-75 Sodium salt oi. mineral oil sulionlc acid. 95-14 Potassium oleate 10 5-20 'lrlethanolsmine soap oioleic acid 9. 7 HiOleic Mid 0. 3 0. 1-4 Mcnoethylether oidiethyleneglycol--- 5. 0 8-10Diphenylam p Trace. 0. 01-0. 1

Example 2 Preferred Ranges of proportions proportions Percent PercentMineral oil 450.--; 65 40-75 Sodium -sait of mineral oil sulionic a d. 8-12 Potasimn oleate 13 5-20 Triethanolamine soap of oleic acid- 0. 24430 fir gm 365151231355 '1' "'T'T" 2 o one u uy ensg Beamin -32.-Trace. 0. 01-0. 1

In practical use triethanolamine soap of oleic acid has proved to bevery satisfactory, but the corresponding monoand di-ethanolamine soapsmay also be used. The latter two, however, may not be employed with likeadvantage as the former. An objection against the use of the monoanddi-ethanolaminesoaps is that the elimination of soaping or scouringbefore dyeing, referred to herein, cannot be so well obtained and.furthermore, when using these soaps a larger proportion of free oleicacid would be necessary, and such larger proportions of oleic acid inthe coning or winding oil described herein is not desirable.Monoamylamine soap of oleic acid gives very satisfactory results as asubstitute soap for the trlethanolamine soap, but its strong odor mayprove an objection to some extent in commercial use. 1

The following method for preparing the composition has been found togive very successful results.

Mineral oil, in the range of proportions from4%t075%,isfirstintroducedintoamix1n8 drum, and to this is addedthesolvent for the soaps which is monoethylether or monobutylether ofdiethyleneglycol from 3% to and oleic acid. While stirring slowly,enough potassium hydroxide is added to form, from 5% to potassiumoleate.

After stirring this mixture for about 15 minutes, a sample is analyzedfor the free fatty acid content to determine the correct amount oftriethanolamine which will be required to neutralize all the acids withthe exception of substantially 0.3% of calculated free fattyv oleic acidin the final mixture. The calculated required amount of triethanolaminewhich is generally from 4% to is next added slowly and the stirringcontinued for about 10 minutes. Finally, the mineral oil sulphonate isadded in the proportion of from 5% to 14%. A trace of an antioxidizingagent such as resorcinol, .diethyleneglycol or the like is added to thefinal mixture. 20

All of the ingredients used should be waterfree or substantiallywater-free at the time the composition is made if a clear product is tobe prepared. Heat may be employed to bring ingredients into solution.

Fabrics, yarn, threads and filaments which have been coated orimpregnated with the composition of the present invention, either beforeor during the making of the fabric or other arti cles, may be passedinto the dye bath or brought so into contact with a dyeingliquid-without preliminary hot soaping, scouring or similar treat ment,to remove the winding oil composition or 011 part thereof. The oflcoating or impregnating of the fabric, yarn. threads, or filaments, onas such direct entry of the oiled or lubricated material into a neutralor alkaline dye bath does not de-emulsify 'or break out as an oilyliquid even when the dye bath contains inorganic salts added for thesake of better exhaustion of the 40 dye bath. Examples of such inorganicsalts are sodium chloride and sodium sulphate. Thus the oil orcomponents thereof does not float on the top of the dye bath or preventor decrease the dye absorption when the dye is in contact with thefabric, yarn or filament. The invention. therefore, also contemplatesthe dyeing of the fabric, yarn or filament without previously removal orsubstantial removal therefrom of the winding or coning oil compositionby scouring. 5

In treating yarns, threads or filaments which weaken when wetted out,such as yarns, or filaments of certain artificial materialait is idesirable that they be treated in the dry state with the compositionalso substantially free from water. Otherwise, the composition may beapplied to the material to be treated while it is more or less in a wetcondition and the composition applied to the material in this conditi0nmay or may not contain considerable water no content. It is also withinmy invention to apply the composition substantially free of water to asubstantially dry fabric, yarn, thread or filament .for lubricating andprotecting them during various operations to which they may be subjected55 in the textile industry, for example, weaving, knitting, braiding,winding or coning of threads or filaments.

Usinganaminesoapandalkalimetalsosp together in thecomposition as morefully set forth in Examples 1 and 2 above, has been found in practice toresult in a. composition of the character .described with excellentproperties as regards lubrication and protection, solubility oremulsifying power, stability, nonimpairment of base soaps, and a solventfor the soaps of class-consisting of monoethylether of diethyiene thedyeing process, appearance and odor of the product, elimination .ofwashing OT'SOOUIIHE due to the rapid emulsification oi the oil withwater or salts containing dye bath, prevention of adhesion of woundfiber or yarn, moisture proofing, and general applicability for thepurposes intended. I a

The compositions described herein are usually employed between the timethe fiber is formed, for example fibers of visbous silk, and the timethe final product, such as woven fabric or knitted goods or otherarticle, is finished.

The terms iubrieat .luhrication", or lubricating power" used herein areused to describe the property of the composition or other material whichprotects the yarn threads or fllaments by decreasing the frictionbetween them and the machine parts with which they come in contactand/or which decreases friction between yarn, threads, or filamentsthemselves.

I claim:

1. A stable homogeneous solution 'for the treatment of artificialthreads, filaments, fabrics and the like, comprising a mineral oil, amineral oil sulphonate in an amount insufiicient to inhibit thelubricating properties .of the mineral oil,

other emulsifying agents having lubricatingglycol and monobutylether ofdiethylene glycol. whereby moisture may be absorbed withoutstratification ofthe materials. 5'

2. A. stable homogeneous solution for the treatment of artificialthreads, filaments, fabrics and the like, comprising a mineral oil, amineral oil sulphonate in an-amount insuillcient to inhibit thelubricating properties of mineral 10 oil; alkali metallic andtriethanolamine soaps of oleic acid and a solvent for the soaps of theclass consisting of monoethylether of jdiethylene glycol, whereby whenmoisture is abmrb'ed, strati- 0.1% of an antioxidizing agent of theclass consisting of resorcinol and diphenyl v ALEIDUS G. noomns.

